Artificial timbering for mine-tunnels.



PATENTED APR. 23, 1907.

D. W. SHBPARD. Y ARTIFICIAL TIMBIIRING POR MINE TUNNELS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1906.

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PATENTED APR. 23, 1907.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25.1906.

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I1/Wenko@ @Henn m3 `UNrrED STATES PATENT 'o Flin312.? l

l DARWIN W. SHEPARD, or DENVER, oojL'oRADo.

AFiTIFlCIAL TIMBERING FOR MINE-T'UNNELS.

Nasencse.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 23,1907.

Application led Hy 25,1906. Serial No. 318,732.

. To aZZ whom it may concern:

p' letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

'mventionelates to improvements in art' cial beams or timbers as well as the special arrangement of these timbers for tunnel work in mines or other localitiesr where 'tunneling is required.

The invention will now be described in detail and will be fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which is' illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In this drawing, Figure 1 is a cross section of a tunnel showing the timbering in end elevation. .Fig 2 is a section taken through one of thefaitiicial beams or timbers. In this viewl one ofthe beams is shown which when in use inthe tunnel occupies horizontal position at the top of the uprig ts. Fig. 3 is a similar view of one of the upright timbers. Fi 4 is a view of one of the top timbers whic is formed hollow, with a cavity \open on its lower side. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the beams which may be used for lagging or for forming the side walls y of the tunnel outside of the upright beams.

' Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional View showing one of the uprights and the top and bottom beams connected therewith.

The same reference characters indicate the. same parts in all the views.A

Let the numeral 5 designate one of my improved artificial timbers which consists of a cement body -6 in which are embedded metal members 9 which are connected at their extremities as shown at 11 and bowed outwardly in opposite directions intermediate their extremities forming a sort of truss oi double arch. Between these members 9 is located a spacing device 10 which retains the members in their normal position. These members 9 are bowed outwardly in the plane of the strain to which they are to be sulgected. For instance the timber shown 1n ig. 2 1s for use in 'a horizontal poslton' or as shown at the top ofthe structure in Fig. 1.

bers 9 are bowed upwardly and downwardly, thus greatl increasing their strain-resisting quality. 11 this case the metal members 9 are preferably flat andthrough their joined extremities are formed openings -12 which register with openings 13 formed in the cement body of the beam. These openings are to receive the ends of the metal rods or members -which protrude from the extremities of the uptight timbers. In the making of 1these beams, the metal truss members are pre ared and the cement or concrete body whi e in a plastic state is poured into molds containing the metal parts so that after the 'In this case the truss or metal arch membody of the beamis hardened the metala parts are entirely concealed.

In the construction shown- .in Fig. `2, the

members 9 are secured to ether at their extremities by rivets 9A. n this view the members 9 are shown originally as two distinct and separate parts.

The upright timber which I designate 15, is composed' of the cement or concrete body 16 and two trussl or arch-shaped members 17 bowed outwardly between their extremities, in the direction of the strain, the same as the construction shown in Fi 2. sujected to lateral strain as` they occupy an upright position; while the beams '5 are adapted to resist a vertical strain since they occupy a horzontal position. The truss members 17 are separated by a spacing device 18 whose extremities are curved to engage the said members'which in this caseare preferablyI composed of rods cylindrical or approximately cylindrical. As shown 1n The timbers 15, however, are to be Fig. 3 the two members 17 are formed from a IOO provided with recesses or-mortises to receive.

the extremities of an upright member 15;

The top and bottom members 5 and 25 and two upright members one on each side of the tunnel, constitute a framing structure which will be locatedas often as required in the tunnel.` To these frame structures is applied the necessary s ide and top la ging to prevent'the surrounding natural wa s of the tunnel from enteringr the latter.

As shown inthe drawingthe top laggin consists of beams 26 in which are embedde metal rods 27. These beams are provided with a longitudinal cavity 28 whichjopens on their lower surfaces. The lagging beams 26 which are placed at the extremities of the top members-5, receive the upper extremities 20 of the metal parts of the beams 16, whereby the latter are entirely concealed. The lagging for the side walls of the tunnel may be composed of beams 29 in which are embeddedmetal rods 30. The upright beams 15 of the timbering are-provided at suitable intervals with angle irons 31 whose inner portions are embedded in the body of the beam while theirouter extremities are turned upwardly forming.supports for the lagging beams 29. Any desire number of these lagging'beams may be employed according to the condition of the surrounding rock or material through which the tunnel 1s passing. In-view of the scarcity of woodfor timbering mine and other tunnels, it is believed that my improved structure will be found exceedingly advantageous both from the standpoints of economy and durability.

, Having thus described my invention, what 2. A timbering. structure for mines includ'- ing a Jframe Work composed of topbeams and.V

uprights a-t the ext-remites of the' to beams,

the body portion of each beam of t e struc.`

ture beingcom osed ofarticialstoneI in which are embe ded:A metal members bowed outwardly between their extremities in the direction of the strain to which they are to be subjected, and suitable means for connecting.

the uprights with the top beam, substantially as described.

3. A tunnel timbering'structure composed of top 'and bottombeams and uprights at the extremities of the top and bottom beams, thel top and upright beams each being composed of cement substance in which are embedded metal members bowed outwardly between their extremities in the directionof the strain to which they are to be subjected, the u right beams being provided with outwardl protruding angle irons, side lagging beams supported by these angle irons, and top lagging beams which engage the top member of the structure.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DARWIN W. SHEPARD. Witnesses A. J. OBRIEN, DENA'NELSON.

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